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mmmmmmmmmSANDFORD'S PACTBy Gerald Neave(Copyright by W. G.-Chapman.)"Any kicks this morningMiss Lorimer?" inquired Henry Sandford,president for the time of the MontanaEagle Gold Mining company, as hesat down at the mahogany desk inthe office of the big city building."Half a dozen," answered MissLorimer, laughing. "Say, Mr. Sandford, it certainly does seem to be getting a bit warm in these parts. Thatclergyman from Boston has beenwriting in wanting to know whetherthe mine's ever started operations orever going to.""Well, I'll write him later," answered the president absently. "Ifnecessary we'll declare a 10 per centdividend for his benefit.""And that old lady from Philadelphia, who says she's invested everything ""Pshaw! We needn't notice her, tillshe writes that she's coming to interview me. Then we'll send her adividend, too. Applications still piling in?""Twelve thousands dollars sinceSaturday.""Whoop!" ejaculated the president."Say, Miss Lorimer, there certainlyare a lot of suckers in the world, ain'tthere? I wonder how many's beenborn since we shut up shop on Saturday night?""Just 2,400," answered the secretary, after a short compilation uponher pad."That ought to mean something forus," commented the president.Nevertheless, he was anxious thatmorning. He had promoted manydubious concerns during the pastyear or two, aided by a "sucker list"for which he had paid the sum of$3,000. The money had come rollingin irom ail parts or me country;slergymen, widows and fools had contributed largely on the promise of ahundred per cent dividend annually.Whenever any applicant became tootroublesome Sandford cleared himself and allayed -suspicions- by "declaring a dividend-" But he had reason to suspect that the federal officerswere investigating him and he waspondering the advisability of departing for cooler climes.Miss Lorimer had been with himfor six months. She had come to hima simple girl, innocent of his methodsof "finance." He had corrupted her,J&SS'"Well, I'll Write Him Later."he had taught Tier to believe thatjiismethods of "business" were thoseuniversally fQllowed in the financialworld. He did not know the revoltthat had taken place within her,nor that she needed.her salary of $15urgently to support her widowedmother.Sandford had begun to think MissHilda Lorimer had the best businesshead of any woman whom he hadknown. And. something .as close tof)iAi'aS On -'aWfc.flfadM,